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Weil ich böse bin
Jahrelang war Jane Ryan auf der Flucht vor dem gewalttätigen Vater ihrer Tochter Harper. Jetzt haben Mutter und Tochter endlich ein sicheres Zuhause gefunden. Jane hat einen guten Job als Lehrerin, ist glücklich in einen Kollegen verliebt und erträgt tapfer Harpers Pubertäts-Wehwehchen. Doch gerade als sie anfängt, sich sicher zu fühlen, taucht eine neue Schülerin auf, die Harper zum Verwechseln ähnlich sieht. Wenig später kommt es zu ersten rätselhaften Zwischenfällen. Gefährlichen Zwischenfällen. Und Harper gerät immer wieder unter Verdacht …
399 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2015
17 people are currently reading
673 people want to read
About the author
Rosalind Noonan
36 books161 followersROSALIND NOONAN grew up in suburban Maryland and enjoyed being part of a large family. "With my four siblings, Saturday mornings were a blast," she says. "There was festival seating on the living room floor as we devoured cartoons and passed the Sugar Pops."
She caught the writing bug in second grade when she won first place in a poetry contest. "The prize was twenty dollars," she recalls. "That was big bucks for a second grader. I thought I was going to Disneyland." Wooed by the taste of fame and fortune, she kept writing.
After attending Wagner College in Staten Island, she remained in New York City where she worked as an editor for various book publishers. Noonan currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, a retired cop from the NYPD, and two children. Although she sometimes misses the rapid pulse of New York, she enjoys writing in the shade of towering two-hundred year old Douglas fir trees.
She caught the writing bug in second grade when she won first place in a poetry contest. "The prize was twenty dollars," she recalls. "That was big bucks for a second grader. I thought I was going to Disneyland." Wooed by the taste of fame and fortune, she kept writing.
After attending Wagner College in Staten Island, she remained in New York City where she worked as an editor for various book publishers. Noonan currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, a retired cop from the NYPD, and two children. Although she sometimes misses the rapid pulse of New York, she enjoys writing in the shade of towering two-hundred year old Douglas fir trees.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 11, 2019
This is a book that I’ve had laying around for ages. I hadn’t realised I’d requested this on Netgalley, I’d had it on my shelves too.
I wish I had read this ages ago, I really loved the handle on this story.
Sad to start with, thinking of yourself carrying twin girls but knowing you could only keep one. How does a mother decide that?
The girls were very different in needs and personality straight away. Polar opposite.
We find that the father of these girls was a nasty piece of work.
She hopes this won’t follow in the girls genetic makeup.
The story was fascinating, entertaining, enjoyable I actually loved it more than I expect to. So bonus.
Was it predictable?
Yes
But it was just compulsive reading.
I wish I had read this ages ago, I really loved the handle on this story.
Sad to start with, thinking of yourself carrying twin girls but knowing you could only keep one. How does a mother decide that?
The girls were very different in needs and personality straight away. Polar opposite.
We find that the father of these girls was a nasty piece of work.
She hopes this won’t follow in the girls genetic makeup.
The story was fascinating, entertaining, enjoyable I actually loved it more than I expect to. So bonus.
Was it predictable?
Yes
But it was just compulsive reading.
April 28, 2015
A special thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TAKE ANOTHER LOOK by Rosalind Noonan is an emotional, chilling, and suspenseful mystery thriller; an exploration of highly charged contemporary topics— complexities of motherhood, family, genetics, bullying, sibling rivalry, domestic abuse, psychological conflicts, and evil.
In Seattle, Jane Ryan has to stick to the plan, as she envisions herself and her life beyond the hospital. Some choices could be easily fixed, but not this. She has given birth to twins; however, she can only keep one. Which baby? The one crying all the time or the pleasant one? One would be a challenge, but two? She would love to keep both, so two sisters could grow up together.
She had wanted to name the babies after literary icons, Harper Lee and Louisa May Alcott, thinking possibly it would raise their IQ. With no choice, she chose to give away one for adoption, and move south to Portland, Oregon and hopefully the girls would never cross paths. The adoptive mother would not be given Jane’s information as a closed adoption. Jane had moved over the years to different states and changed her name. At the beginning of the novel readers are unaware why she is running.
The book flashes forward to fourteen years later. Harper, the daughter is in high school at Mirror Lake and Jane a teacher at the same school. All goes well until her worst nightmare catches up with her (actually several). She had pretended that she was in the witness protection program and tried to make a new start. Frank, the father of her twins.
Frank was a cop. Above the law. He was persuasive and charming. After all, he wanted her to have an abortion. The trauma of Frank Dixon had nearly destroyed her. If Frank was hunting her down, she had to keep running. When he had told her he came from a family of crazies, she had thought he was joking, but since she has learned different.
For a decade she had focused on making a life for herself and her daughter, and most people believed Harper’s father was dead. Frank is locked up after all, so he is no longer a threat. Seven years for sexual assault. He used his authority as a cop and raped women. After she escaped he repeated his behavior over and over again. He will be out soon.
Now after all these years, the police want her to testify against him in order to keep him in prison. They need to prove his entire family is associated with heinous crimes. She has spent half of her life, trying to run from him, and she wants him locked up for good. He had been a model boyfriend until moved into together and he had seized control gradually. After a year, she found out she was pregnant. After he had made the appointment for the abortion, she left. Now she begins to wonder if genetics play a part in antisocial behavior. Is psychopathy inherited? A result of nature or nurture?
When Harper winds up in trouble she begins asking about her father, she starts liking boys, Jane is worried as Harper is pushing the limits, bullying and has a temper. She finds herself watching Harper for signs of her father’s meanness. This makes her begin to think about Louisa. She rarely allows herself to dwell on the child she gave away—Was Louisa more like Jane – academic, serious-minded, and obedient, perhaps?
To further complicate matters, there is a new girl, Isabel at their school and she looks like Harper. Harper dislikes her saying she escaped from Malibu Barbies beach house all frilly and pink. However, the girl Harper hates is Olivia – her rival, her nemesis.
Are some children born with a propensity for evil? Jane just hoped her environment has an impact over genetics. However, each day she is seeing Harper’s sense of entitlement and greed. She had seen those demons many times in Frank’s eyes. Had she raised Harper all these years without instilling important concepts like honest and integrity? Now there is a new girl at school and she looks like Harper? Could this be Harper’s twin?
So many secrets, and what if this is her daughter and it comes out? She could lose her job, her boyfriend, and possibly her other daughter—it would be a scandal.
Now Isabel's adoptive dad has died and her mom is sick, so through a PI, they track Jane down. Isabel (Louise) is the good one, an editor- in- chief of the school newspaper, the good student with a 4.0 grade point average. Jane is distraught, this cannot be happening! When it all comes out, the girls make friends for a short time, and then one starts scrambling for more attention, with more evil.
However, when Jane has to take care of Isabel (Louise) while her mother Chrissy, is very sick, some other evidence comes to light, proposing the question— which is really the evil twin? Louise Isabel, Harper Lee, or both?
Perhaps Frank’s evil genes had been passed down, to not one daughter but two. Which one can she trust? Manipulating like Frank. How can she ever forgive herself? Before it ends there are two dead and three on the hit list. The epilogue is chilling, so hope there will be a second book . . .
Boy, oh boy . . surprises around every corner with twists and turns. It has taken me a while to write my review, as did not want to say too much; however, sometimes you have to “give a little more” in order to match the correct reader. Listen guys and gals, this is not a simple family drama and women’s fiction – the author really has written a suspense mystery and psycho-thriller with some excellent insights into behaviors. An intense read and a good storyteller; quite impressed since this was my first book by the author. I liked the novel better after reading the book, versus what I had envisioned after reading the initial summary.
In addition, there is the domestic violence, as mentioned in the book, one third of the women killed in the US are murdered by a domestic partner. My only comment - the author could have turned it up a notch and probably be classified as a psycho-thriller, as a good set up- maybe a sequel with backstory of Jane/Frank, more evil, and bring back Frank.
TAKE ANOTHER LOOK, in the theme of, a cross-over between T. Greenwood, Jodi Picoult, Jane Green, Chevy Stevens, Lisa Unger, and Heather Gudenkauf. Those readers enjoying young adult, evil, mystery, suspense and light psycho-thrillers will be glued to the pages. Loved the front cover with the evil look. Look forward to reading more!
JDC Must Read Books
TAKE ANOTHER LOOK by Rosalind Noonan is an emotional, chilling, and suspenseful mystery thriller; an exploration of highly charged contemporary topics— complexities of motherhood, family, genetics, bullying, sibling rivalry, domestic abuse, psychological conflicts, and evil.
In Seattle, Jane Ryan has to stick to the plan, as she envisions herself and her life beyond the hospital. Some choices could be easily fixed, but not this. She has given birth to twins; however, she can only keep one. Which baby? The one crying all the time or the pleasant one? One would be a challenge, but two? She would love to keep both, so two sisters could grow up together.
She had wanted to name the babies after literary icons, Harper Lee and Louisa May Alcott, thinking possibly it would raise their IQ. With no choice, she chose to give away one for adoption, and move south to Portland, Oregon and hopefully the girls would never cross paths. The adoptive mother would not be given Jane’s information as a closed adoption. Jane had moved over the years to different states and changed her name. At the beginning of the novel readers are unaware why she is running.
The book flashes forward to fourteen years later. Harper, the daughter is in high school at Mirror Lake and Jane a teacher at the same school. All goes well until her worst nightmare catches up with her (actually several). She had pretended that she was in the witness protection program and tried to make a new start. Frank, the father of her twins.
Frank was a cop. Above the law. He was persuasive and charming. After all, he wanted her to have an abortion. The trauma of Frank Dixon had nearly destroyed her. If Frank was hunting her down, she had to keep running. When he had told her he came from a family of crazies, she had thought he was joking, but since she has learned different.
For a decade she had focused on making a life for herself and her daughter, and most people believed Harper’s father was dead. Frank is locked up after all, so he is no longer a threat. Seven years for sexual assault. He used his authority as a cop and raped women. After she escaped he repeated his behavior over and over again. He will be out soon.
Now after all these years, the police want her to testify against him in order to keep him in prison. They need to prove his entire family is associated with heinous crimes. She has spent half of her life, trying to run from him, and she wants him locked up for good. He had been a model boyfriend until moved into together and he had seized control gradually. After a year, she found out she was pregnant. After he had made the appointment for the abortion, she left. Now she begins to wonder if genetics play a part in antisocial behavior. Is psychopathy inherited? A result of nature or nurture?
When Harper winds up in trouble she begins asking about her father, she starts liking boys, Jane is worried as Harper is pushing the limits, bullying and has a temper. She finds herself watching Harper for signs of her father’s meanness. This makes her begin to think about Louisa. She rarely allows herself to dwell on the child she gave away—Was Louisa more like Jane – academic, serious-minded, and obedient, perhaps?
To further complicate matters, there is a new girl, Isabel at their school and she looks like Harper. Harper dislikes her saying she escaped from Malibu Barbies beach house all frilly and pink. However, the girl Harper hates is Olivia – her rival, her nemesis.
Are some children born with a propensity for evil? Jane just hoped her environment has an impact over genetics. However, each day she is seeing Harper’s sense of entitlement and greed. She had seen those demons many times in Frank’s eyes. Had she raised Harper all these years without instilling important concepts like honest and integrity? Now there is a new girl at school and she looks like Harper? Could this be Harper’s twin?
So many secrets, and what if this is her daughter and it comes out? She could lose her job, her boyfriend, and possibly her other daughter—it would be a scandal.
Now Isabel's adoptive dad has died and her mom is sick, so through a PI, they track Jane down. Isabel (Louise) is the good one, an editor- in- chief of the school newspaper, the good student with a 4.0 grade point average. Jane is distraught, this cannot be happening! When it all comes out, the girls make friends for a short time, and then one starts scrambling for more attention, with more evil.
However, when Jane has to take care of Isabel (Louise) while her mother Chrissy, is very sick, some other evidence comes to light, proposing the question— which is really the evil twin? Louise Isabel, Harper Lee, or both?
Perhaps Frank’s evil genes had been passed down, to not one daughter but two. Which one can she trust? Manipulating like Frank. How can she ever forgive herself? Before it ends there are two dead and three on the hit list. The epilogue is chilling, so hope there will be a second book . . .
Boy, oh boy . . surprises around every corner with twists and turns. It has taken me a while to write my review, as did not want to say too much; however, sometimes you have to “give a little more” in order to match the correct reader. Listen guys and gals, this is not a simple family drama and women’s fiction – the author really has written a suspense mystery and psycho-thriller with some excellent insights into behaviors. An intense read and a good storyteller; quite impressed since this was my first book by the author. I liked the novel better after reading the book, versus what I had envisioned after reading the initial summary.
In addition, there is the domestic violence, as mentioned in the book, one third of the women killed in the US are murdered by a domestic partner. My only comment - the author could have turned it up a notch and probably be classified as a psycho-thriller, as a good set up- maybe a sequel with backstory of Jane/Frank, more evil, and bring back Frank.
TAKE ANOTHER LOOK, in the theme of, a cross-over between T. Greenwood, Jodi Picoult, Jane Green, Chevy Stevens, Lisa Unger, and Heather Gudenkauf. Those readers enjoying young adult, evil, mystery, suspense and light psycho-thrillers will be glued to the pages. Loved the front cover with the evil look. Look forward to reading more!
JDC Must Read Books
May 28, 2015
3.review to follow.
June 4, 2015
I liked this book but thought it could have been stronger. It was almost there on the edge of being edgy. I did not really feel or get the connection between the good and evil twin. I kept waiting and waiting wondering when the suspense between the twins was going to happen. It did not happen until the last third of the story. It was brief and a bit of a letdown. The only thing that really kept me reading this book was the storyline involving Jane herself. She had issues that dealt with other things than her rebellious daughter. Which by the way I found Harper to be a brat who needed a spanking on the butt. The ending was fine. It was like the author did try to be dark with it but as I said it was "fine. Also a little too late. If you know what I mean. Although I did like this book enough that I will probably check out other books by this author.
August 11, 2015
Grade: B-
On the run from an abusive boyfriend, Jane gives birth to twins. Unable to care for both, she keeps the more colicky Harper and relinquishes the easier going twin for adoption. Fourteen years later, Isobel and her widowed mother move to Jane's town and the girls become friends. One of the twins begins causing trouble, but who--the moody Harper or the sweet Isobel?
Rosalind Noonan grabbed my interest from page one of TAKE ANOTHER LOOK and I couldn't stop reading until the creep ending hours later. Told from Jane's 3rd person POV, I was swept into her saga as if this novel had been written in first person, my preferred POV. I empathized with her difficult history, but couldn't help feeling critical of her parenting, overly permissive and lacking consequences with Harper, cold and dismissive of Isobel and her needs. I didn't understand how she could be so slow to warm to the daughter she relinquished. Because Jane had met and chosen the adoptive parents and knew their names as they did hers, the adoption wasn't closed, as Noonan had written.
I didn't empathize with the spoiled, ungrateful Harper until she started to feel some very appropriate jealousy over having to share her mother with Isobel, but even then she was difficult to embrace. I had the most sympathy for Isobel, even when her perfect facade broke. I can't say more without spoiling the plot.
I figured out much of the ending of TAKE ANOTHER LOOK early on, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story or writing. I would have rated higher but graded down for the over-the-top bad seed and Jane's bad parenting, especially in the final chapter before the super creepy epilogue.
On the run from an abusive boyfriend, Jane gives birth to twins. Unable to care for both, she keeps the more colicky Harper and relinquishes the easier going twin for adoption. Fourteen years later, Isobel and her widowed mother move to Jane's town and the girls become friends. One of the twins begins causing trouble, but who--the moody Harper or the sweet Isobel?
Rosalind Noonan grabbed my interest from page one of TAKE ANOTHER LOOK and I couldn't stop reading until the creep ending hours later. Told from Jane's 3rd person POV, I was swept into her saga as if this novel had been written in first person, my preferred POV. I empathized with her difficult history, but couldn't help feeling critical of her parenting, overly permissive and lacking consequences with Harper, cold and dismissive of Isobel and her needs. I didn't understand how she could be so slow to warm to the daughter she relinquished. Because Jane had met and chosen the adoptive parents and knew their names as they did hers, the adoption wasn't closed, as Noonan had written.
I didn't empathize with the spoiled, ungrateful Harper until she started to feel some very appropriate jealousy over having to share her mother with Isobel, but even then she was difficult to embrace. I had the most sympathy for Isobel, even when her perfect facade broke. I can't say more without spoiling the plot.
I figured out much of the ending of TAKE ANOTHER LOOK early on, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story or writing. I would have rated higher but graded down for the over-the-top bad seed and Jane's bad parenting, especially in the final chapter before the super creepy epilogue.
June 9, 2015
Overall I enjoyed this book but there were parts that made me want to scream. The mother's constant criticism and negativity toward her daughter Harper made me want to reach through the pages and strangle her. As a mother of a teenage girl myself I cringed at how she treated Harper and found myself feeling bad for the girl and despising the mom. Still, a good read. I will definitely read more by this author.
June 22, 2015
Any time I stumble over a book revolving around twins, I pick it up - though this one is from the perspective of a mother who had to make a terrible choice. When Jane discovers that she is pregnant with twins, her limited resources and estrangement from her family leads her to make the difficult decision to give one of her daughters up for adoption. She forces her difficult past behind her as much as she can and focuses on raising her remaining daughter. Though she initially lives in fear, now that Harper is a sophomore in high school, Jane has relaxed - only to have those past threads creep back into her life.
It’s an engaging and fast-paced read. Jane is, for the most part, a sympathetic character, but it is hard not to wince at the sheer amount of lies Jane has based her new life upon. Jane’s semi-secret boyfriend (he is also a teacher at Harper’s high school along with Jane) gives some contradictory advice but it’s a pageturner (though the prevalence of the high school lends this book more of a YA feel, despite the perspective being from Jane’s eyes). It’s a fun read and though the plot plays out rather predictably, it’s still a lot of fun (there are some scenes here that are straight from the making of Margo though! Sweet Valley comparisons are just never to not be found in books about twins!). The ending has enough room for a follow-up, and I plan on keeping an eye out for Noonan’s books.
It’s an engaging and fast-paced read. Jane is, for the most part, a sympathetic character, but it is hard not to wince at the sheer amount of lies Jane has based her new life upon. Jane’s semi-secret boyfriend (he is also a teacher at Harper’s high school along with Jane) gives some contradictory advice but it’s a pageturner (though the prevalence of the high school lends this book more of a YA feel, despite the perspective being from Jane’s eyes). It’s a fun read and though the plot plays out rather predictably, it’s still a lot of fun (there are some scenes here that are straight from the making of Margo though! Sweet Valley comparisons are just never to not be found in books about twins!). The ending has enough room for a follow-up, and I plan on keeping an eye out for Noonan’s books.
October 4, 2015
A letdown.
The premise is great, however, the story is unbelievable and the characters are flat, naive and outright stupid at times. Very disappointing from an otherwise good author.
The premise is great, however, the story is unbelievable and the characters are flat, naive and outright stupid at times. Very disappointing from an otherwise good author.
October 1, 2015
Another wonderful, suspenseful read by Rosalind Noonan. Highly recommending.
August 5, 2017
Turns out I had already read this book about 2 years ago and forgotten so that says how memorable it was.
July 6, 2022
Ein ganz netter Thriller über die Lehrerin Jane, die vor vierzehn Jahren aus der Beziehung zu ihrem gewalttätigen Exfreund geflohen ist. Jedoch war sie damals auch mit Zwillingen von ihm schwanger und musste eines der Mädchen schweren Herzens aus finanziellen Gründen abgeben. Inzwischen lebt sie mit ihrer Tochter Harper aber glücklich in einer Kleinstadt, zumindest bis Isabell auftaucht, die sich schnell als die verlorene Zwillingsschwester herausstellt und in deren Adoptivfamilie es gerade schwierig läuft. Immer mehr drängt die vierzehn-jährige sich scheinbar deshalb in Janes und Harpers Leben, was letzterer gar nicht zu gefallen scheint. Als dann aber die ersten gefährlichen Zwischenfälle passieren und Harper dabei unter Verdacht gerät, muss Jane sich schließlich fragen, ob eine ihrer Töchter den skrupellosen Charakter ihres Vaters geerbt hat - nur welche? Die Idee der Geschichte klingt an sich ganz gut und vielversprechend, allerdings wird einem beim Lesen dann doch relativ schnell klar, dass man keinen ›richtigen‹ Thriller vor sich hat. Es passieren zwar ein, zwei Sachen, aber Spannung kommt eigentlich nicht auf und es gibt auch keine überraschenden Wendungen, da von Anfang an ja irgendwie ziemlich klar ist, wer hier die Täterin ist. Jedoch ist man dennoch tatsächlich kaum enttäuscht, da dafür der Schreibstil sehr flüssig ist und sich die Story einfach super und unterhaltsam liest, weshalb man damit trotz allem nicht unzufrieden sein kann. Auch die Charaktere sind dabei ganz in Ordnung und Janes krasse Lebensgeschichte verleiht ihrem Charakter Tiefe und man bewundert sie durchaus auch etwas. Insgesamt kann man also sagen: wer einen spannenden (Psycho-)Thriller voller Wendungen sucht, ist hier leider falsch, doch das Buch ist trotzdem ziemlich unterhaltsam und eignet sich wahrscheinlich gerade für alle, die mal nichts aus dem harten Krimi-Bereich, sondern eher eine Geschichte mit etwas anderem Drama wollen.
June 10, 2017
2.5
nette Idee und auch der Schreibstil und die Atmosphäre fand ich sehr angenehm
Leider für mich sehr vorhersehbar
die Grundstruktur wurde für mich schon nach dem Klappentext klar und auch die Einzelheiten haben sich ca 150 Seiten vor Ende sehr stark abgezeichnet
nette Idee und auch der Schreibstil und die Atmosphäre fand ich sehr angenehm
Leider für mich sehr vorhersehbar
die Grundstruktur wurde für mich schon nach dem Klappentext klar und auch die Einzelheiten haben sich ca 150 Seiten vor Ende sehr stark abgezeichnet
October 22, 2017
In all honesty, this felt like a "Lifetime Movie." I had already pretty much figured out the plot and what the ending would be on this one. It was good enough.
December 4, 2017
I never actually finished the book- I seriously couldn't get into it at all.
August 27, 2019
Really good! Ending was not what I expected! Recommended!
March 14, 2021
Good read
This is a well written story with twists and turns. I enjoyed the unexpected happening. I will be looking for more from this author.
This is a well written story with twists and turns. I enjoyed the unexpected happening. I will be looking for more from this author.
April 27, 2022
really good book, loved the ending, really good characters and good story, easy read
August 25, 2022
Love it! Think I may have found me a new favorite author! Looking forward to reading more of her work!
December 6, 2024
Das Buch war okay, ich hätte es mir spannender vorgestellt und das Ende war ziemlich vorhersehbar...
December 23, 2020
Terribly unoriginal. The plot reads like something lifted from a Lifetime movie. The writing is terrible, like a junior high schoolers. It's fairly easy to predict the "twist." Save yourself some time and find a better book.
April 29, 2015
Take Another Look by Rosalind Noonan is a book of suspense. Jane Ryan is pregnant and running. She was living with police officer, Frank Dixon. At first he was charming and kind but after Jane moved in with him, he became controlling, demanding, and abusive. Jane ran to her friend, Marnie who lives in Seattle with her husband. Jane knows that she will not be able to afford to keep both children. She finds a nice family, the Zaretsky’s, to adopt one of the girls. Jane has now given birth and has to decide which twin to keep. Louisa is a calm and quiet little baby. Harper has not stopped crying. Jane wants to make sure that her adopted family will love her and want to keep her, so Jane gives up sweet Louisa.
Almost fifteen years later, Jane and Harper are living in Mirror Lake, Oregon. Harper is always moving. She loves sports. Jane teaches freshman English at Mirror Lake High School where Harper will be a sophomore. Jane is dating science teacher, Luke Bandini, but they have kept their relationship quiet.
One day a man is seen around the school asking for Jane. She is scared. Jane thinks that Frank has finally found her. Someone shows up at her house later that night pounding on the door. Turns out to be a detective with information about Frank. Frank has finally been arrested. He attacked the wrong woman (her father was a bigwig). Turns out Frank Dixon is a sociopath. He comes from a family of murderers. Now Jane is worried about Harper. How big a role do genetics play? Nature versus Nurture?
Harper has never been the easiest child but she is starting to act out. Jane is keeping a close eye on her. Harper is on the school’s softball league and her position is taken away from her by Olivia. Olivia’s father has a lot of influence in the community and the poor coach was not given a choice. Harper states she hates Olivia and wishes she was dead. The day of the school picnic dawns bright, but something sinister happens to Olivia. Olivia is found unconscious and floating in the lake. Harper, of course, is the first suspect. Olivia, when she awakens, has no memory of the accident and is unable to play softball for quite a while. Turns out Olivia was hit with a softball bat! Want to guess whose bat was missing from her bag?
Harper claims innocence in the incident with Olivia. The police do not have any witnesses and the crime goes unsolved. Soon Harper mentions a new girl at school who everyone says looks just like her. The other girl turns out to be Isabel Louisa, the daughter Jane gave up for adoption. Christy Zaretsky is now a widow and has moved to Mirror Lake because she is ill and wants to make sure Isabel will be taken care of if something happens to her. Isabel knows she was adopted and immediately takes to Jane. Once Harper finds out the truth the two are bosom buddies.
Unfortunately, Christy Zaretsky takes a turn for the worse and has to be hospitalized. Isabel comes to live with Jane and Harper. Isabel is very kind, helpful and sweet. Harper starts resenting her. As the weeks go by Harper wants Isabel gone from the house. Things go missing or broken and Harper gets blamed. Then, when they are watching the science classes guinea pigs, one ends up dead. Christy gets moved to a hospital back in Seattle (her sister moved her). Now Jane cannot get Christy to return her calls. What is going on? Who is really at fault?
I had a good time reading Take Another Look. I had an idea how it would turn out, but I just had to keep reading. I give Take Another Look 4.5 out of 5 stars. I love books that draw you in to the story and you just cannot put the book down. I have tried to give you an idea of what the story is about without giving away too much. I hope you will read Take Another Look and enjoy it as much as I enjoyed reading it.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley (and Kensington Books) in exchange for an honest review.
Almost fifteen years later, Jane and Harper are living in Mirror Lake, Oregon. Harper is always moving. She loves sports. Jane teaches freshman English at Mirror Lake High School where Harper will be a sophomore. Jane is dating science teacher, Luke Bandini, but they have kept their relationship quiet.
One day a man is seen around the school asking for Jane. She is scared. Jane thinks that Frank has finally found her. Someone shows up at her house later that night pounding on the door. Turns out to be a detective with information about Frank. Frank has finally been arrested. He attacked the wrong woman (her father was a bigwig). Turns out Frank Dixon is a sociopath. He comes from a family of murderers. Now Jane is worried about Harper. How big a role do genetics play? Nature versus Nurture?
Harper has never been the easiest child but she is starting to act out. Jane is keeping a close eye on her. Harper is on the school’s softball league and her position is taken away from her by Olivia. Olivia’s father has a lot of influence in the community and the poor coach was not given a choice. Harper states she hates Olivia and wishes she was dead. The day of the school picnic dawns bright, but something sinister happens to Olivia. Olivia is found unconscious and floating in the lake. Harper, of course, is the first suspect. Olivia, when she awakens, has no memory of the accident and is unable to play softball for quite a while. Turns out Olivia was hit with a softball bat! Want to guess whose bat was missing from her bag?
Harper claims innocence in the incident with Olivia. The police do not have any witnesses and the crime goes unsolved. Soon Harper mentions a new girl at school who everyone says looks just like her. The other girl turns out to be Isabel Louisa, the daughter Jane gave up for adoption. Christy Zaretsky is now a widow and has moved to Mirror Lake because she is ill and wants to make sure Isabel will be taken care of if something happens to her. Isabel knows she was adopted and immediately takes to Jane. Once Harper finds out the truth the two are bosom buddies.
Unfortunately, Christy Zaretsky takes a turn for the worse and has to be hospitalized. Isabel comes to live with Jane and Harper. Isabel is very kind, helpful and sweet. Harper starts resenting her. As the weeks go by Harper wants Isabel gone from the house. Things go missing or broken and Harper gets blamed. Then, when they are watching the science classes guinea pigs, one ends up dead. Christy gets moved to a hospital back in Seattle (her sister moved her). Now Jane cannot get Christy to return her calls. What is going on? Who is really at fault?
I had a good time reading Take Another Look. I had an idea how it would turn out, but I just had to keep reading. I give Take Another Look 4.5 out of 5 stars. I love books that draw you in to the story and you just cannot put the book down. I have tried to give you an idea of what the story is about without giving away too much. I hope you will read Take Another Look and enjoy it as much as I enjoyed reading it.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley (and Kensington Books) in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2015
People take note, this book is definitely a must read. It has a bit of everything packed in: lots of emotion, some romance, mystery and crime. I was intrigued from page one and that continued all the way through although some parts I almost dreaded reading in fear of what was coming.
Jane Ryan escapes from her psychopathic abusive cop boyfriend after he arranges and demands she have an abortion when she finds out she is pregnant. She moves to a different state, settling in the beautiful town of Mirror Lake. She changes her name and finds out she is carrying twins. She wants to raise both girls but as a single mom with no support she knows she can't afford to keep both babies and she faces the excruciating decision of having to separate the twins and give one up for adoption. She keeps her past a secret, living in fear that her daughter could inherit some of her father's violent personality and that Frank could find them. She raises Harper on her own and while Harper is a rather difficult child (and not very likeable, I didn't care too much for her ) life is pretty much normal. At least it is until the other twin and her adoptive mother move into town, then things get really interesting and Jane is forced to face her past that she has kept a secret from everyone, including her boyfriend.
The age old question of nurture vs nature rears its head here. Frank was a policeman, but a crazy and violent psychopath, following the footsteps of his father and other relatives. How much of what's in your genes predicts your personality? If someone like Frank has a child but is raised without him and in a loving home with caring parent(s) that raise the child lovingly and properly, is that enough to escape the sins of the father? What are the chances that the child could be like Frank, and do you sit around waiting for the ticking time bomb to explode?
I had figured out early on how things were but it didn't spoil the story for me at all. A little like a car crash, I didn't want to face what was coming, but I couldn't stop reading.
I had some issues with the characters. Besides not liking Harper, I had a problem with how cold Jane was with Isabel. I get it was a closed adoption and Isabel appearing would make things really awkward making her face and reveal facts from her past. She seemed unable to bond or be close to Isabel, didn't seem to care that this was her child. She didn't give up Isabel because she hated her, quite the opposite but I didn't see any of that in her actions, she didn't seem to care about having any kind of relationship with her. And Luke? No reaction to what Jane's been hiding? Not even a teensy bit mad?Even Isabel, I would expect her to act differently as the child who was given away.
As I got further in, the pages couldn't turn fast enough. I had a pretty late night, just one more chapter ended up being many more. And I must say, that epilogue gave me the creeps.
I have read a number of Rosalind Noonan's books and she quickly became a favourite of mine. I don't understand why many people don't know about her. All the books of hers that I have read have been fantastic and after some searching I was able to find the ones I hadn't yet read. I think this one may be my favourite.
Jane Ryan escapes from her psychopathic abusive cop boyfriend after he arranges and demands she have an abortion when she finds out she is pregnant. She moves to a different state, settling in the beautiful town of Mirror Lake. She changes her name and finds out she is carrying twins. She wants to raise both girls but as a single mom with no support she knows she can't afford to keep both babies and she faces the excruciating decision of having to separate the twins and give one up for adoption. She keeps her past a secret, living in fear that her daughter could inherit some of her father's violent personality and that Frank could find them. She raises Harper on her own and while Harper is a rather difficult child (and not very likeable, I didn't care too much for her ) life is pretty much normal. At least it is until the other twin and her adoptive mother move into town, then things get really interesting and Jane is forced to face her past that she has kept a secret from everyone, including her boyfriend.
The age old question of nurture vs nature rears its head here. Frank was a policeman, but a crazy and violent psychopath, following the footsteps of his father and other relatives. How much of what's in your genes predicts your personality? If someone like Frank has a child but is raised without him and in a loving home with caring parent(s) that raise the child lovingly and properly, is that enough to escape the sins of the father? What are the chances that the child could be like Frank, and do you sit around waiting for the ticking time bomb to explode?
I had figured out early on how things were but it didn't spoil the story for me at all. A little like a car crash, I didn't want to face what was coming, but I couldn't stop reading.
I had some issues with the characters. Besides not liking Harper, I had a problem with how cold Jane was with Isabel. I get it was a closed adoption and Isabel appearing would make things really awkward making her face and reveal facts from her past. She seemed unable to bond or be close to Isabel, didn't seem to care that this was her child. She didn't give up Isabel because she hated her, quite the opposite but I didn't see any of that in her actions, she didn't seem to care about having any kind of relationship with her. And Luke? No reaction to what Jane's been hiding? Not even a teensy bit mad?Even Isabel, I would expect her to act differently as the child who was given away.
As I got further in, the pages couldn't turn fast enough. I had a pretty late night, just one more chapter ended up being many more. And I must say, that epilogue gave me the creeps.
I have read a number of Rosalind Noonan's books and she quickly became a favourite of mine. I don't understand why many people don't know about her. All the books of hers that I have read have been fantastic and after some searching I was able to find the ones I hadn't yet read. I think this one may be my favourite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2015
Take Another Look
By
Rosalind Noonan
What it's all about...
Jane had to make a decision about her twin baby daughters when they were born. That decision was heartbreaking...she could only keep one baby...she was alone and very unwealthy.
The question is...which baby should she keep? The sweet quiet beautiful baby or the scrappier crying baby...hmmm...which one did she choose?
Years later...Jane is in a new town, teaching and building a life for her daughter Harper...Harper is feisty, sporty, a challenge. Jane worries about the effect that the father of her daughters could have on Harper. He is not in the picture but he is a very bad man...how much of his evil personality is in Harper? Then...in spite of a closed adoption...her other daughter moves to town...and things get really out of control! Isabel...so sweet...so girly...so dainty...do you know where this is headed?
My thoughts after reading this book...
This book was tense, exciting, quite a page turner...and...so much fun! I could not stop reading!
What I loved best...
I loved the messiness of Harper and her twin together...one of them was evil and a very bad seed! I loved it!
What potential readers might want to know...
This book sort of surprised me...it literally knocked me out. If I was on the beach...I would be sunburned because I would have to sit out there until I finished it. It was a bit predictable but so much fun that I didn't care!
By
Rosalind Noonan
What it's all about...
Jane had to make a decision about her twin baby daughters when they were born. That decision was heartbreaking...she could only keep one baby...she was alone and very unwealthy.
The question is...which baby should she keep? The sweet quiet beautiful baby or the scrappier crying baby...hmmm...which one did she choose?
Years later...Jane is in a new town, teaching and building a life for her daughter Harper...Harper is feisty, sporty, a challenge. Jane worries about the effect that the father of her daughters could have on Harper. He is not in the picture but he is a very bad man...how much of his evil personality is in Harper? Then...in spite of a closed adoption...her other daughter moves to town...and things get really out of control! Isabel...so sweet...so girly...so dainty...do you know where this is headed?
My thoughts after reading this book...
This book was tense, exciting, quite a page turner...and...so much fun! I could not stop reading!
What I loved best...
I loved the messiness of Harper and her twin together...one of them was evil and a very bad seed! I loved it!
What potential readers might want to know...
This book sort of surprised me...it literally knocked me out. If I was on the beach...I would be sunburned because I would have to sit out there until I finished it. It was a bit predictable but so much fun that I didn't care!
June 13, 2015
This latest thriller from Rosalind Noonan had me hooked from the very first page. From the opening scenes until the conclusion, I simply could not tear myself away.
It starts off as sort of a “What would you do?” When Jane finds herself pregnant with twins and in an unhealthy relationship, she makes the heart-wrenching decision to give one of the babies up for adoption. After struggling with just which twin to keep, she makes peace with herself and her choice. She moves away and starts a new life with baby Harper.
Several years later, her past comes back to haunt her when she unwittingly comes face to face with her long-lost daughter, Isabel. Everything she’s struggled to build for both herself and Harper is threatened when she must ‘fess up to Harper.
As if that wasn’t a hard enough task, Isabel’s arrival coincides with some strange happenings. Accidents, missing items, illnesses, truths disguised as lies…Jane doesn’t know who or what to believe. Are these just more of Harper’s typical teenage dramatic outbursts? Or is something more disturbing at play?
This is one of those stories where you might think you know what’s going on. I thought the same thing. And I was right. Partially. It’s a book that leads you on and keeps you guessing. And even when you’ve got it figured out, it’s still one heck of a story!
It starts off as sort of a “What would you do?” When Jane finds herself pregnant with twins and in an unhealthy relationship, she makes the heart-wrenching decision to give one of the babies up for adoption. After struggling with just which twin to keep, she makes peace with herself and her choice. She moves away and starts a new life with baby Harper.
Several years later, her past comes back to haunt her when she unwittingly comes face to face with her long-lost daughter, Isabel. Everything she’s struggled to build for both herself and Harper is threatened when she must ‘fess up to Harper.
As if that wasn’t a hard enough task, Isabel’s arrival coincides with some strange happenings. Accidents, missing items, illnesses, truths disguised as lies…Jane doesn’t know who or what to believe. Are these just more of Harper’s typical teenage dramatic outbursts? Or is something more disturbing at play?
This is one of those stories where you might think you know what’s going on. I thought the same thing. And I was right. Partially. It’s a book that leads you on and keeps you guessing. And even when you’ve got it figured out, it’s still one heck of a story!
March 2, 2015
This was an interesting book that could make one wonder is it nature or nurture that really gives children their personalities? I am not one for spoilers but going with the theme of this book, a mother, Jane has twins and decides to keep one and give one up. She finds out the father and his family are a bunch of crazies. So of course on of the kids is going to be a normal child and the other a psycho. Now how Jane decides to keep her baby is she picks the one that won't stop crying and gives up the good baby. Well I am not going to share with you what child ends up being the killer but needless to say they end up meeting and get reunited and all kinds of crazy takes places. Now overall, this topic really makes one think. If you have bad genes are you more likely to turn out bad like one of these twins even if both were raised right with no violence? Kind of makes you think like a lot of Noonan's books do. Then then epilogue just made my mouth drop and ask will there be another book? Great read by a great author. Four out of five stars.
May 5, 2015
I really enjoyed this book.
I really liked the commentary on nature vs nurture which has always been an issue that i have found extremely interesting.
I will say that i do find it frustrating when a book doesn't get to the events foreshadowed in the synopsis until over halfway through the book which was the case with this book.
While i didn't feel particularly connected to any of the characters in the story, i found both Harper and Jane hard to connect with, i did still enjoy the suspenseful nature of the story
Overall i definitely think this is worth checking out.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy to review.
I really liked the commentary on nature vs nurture which has always been an issue that i have found extremely interesting.
I will say that i do find it frustrating when a book doesn't get to the events foreshadowed in the synopsis until over halfway through the book which was the case with this book.
While i didn't feel particularly connected to any of the characters in the story, i found both Harper and Jane hard to connect with, i did still enjoy the suspenseful nature of the story
Overall i definitely think this is worth checking out.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy to review.
May 7, 2015
I did like this book. Although I knew what was happening and who was causing all the problems and how she was doing it, Noonan made it a gripping read.
I have a problem with a book with mistakes... pg.40 Phoenix is a golden retriever, then p. 215 Phoenix is referenced as a lab two times, p.242 back to golden retriever.
p.122 Luke is encouraging Jane to tell Harper truth about the dad, saying "If you don't tell her now, it'll get worse." But on p.203 he says opposite, "...minus the part about Frank's chasing you. No kid should be hear that her father is a psychopath."
A baby died due to drowning, but later Jane imagines the hands wrapped around the throat. So how did the baby die?
The scene in the hospital at the end was a bit contrived. Quick way to wrap it all up. I expected a better entrapment.
Still a good read.
I have a problem with a book with mistakes... pg.40 Phoenix is a golden retriever, then p. 215 Phoenix is referenced as a lab two times, p.242 back to golden retriever.
p.122 Luke is encouraging Jane to tell Harper truth about the dad, saying "If you don't tell her now, it'll get worse." But on p.203 he says opposite, "...minus the part about Frank's chasing you. No kid should be hear that her father is a psychopath."
A baby died due to drowning, but later Jane imagines the hands wrapped around the throat. So how did the baby die?
The scene in the hospital at the end was a bit contrived. Quick way to wrap it all up. I expected a better entrapment.
Still a good read.
Read
April 6, 2016An amazing book. The story is about a single mother who gives birth to twin girls and gives one up for adoption due to financial circumstances.
The father is an evil man and it seems his evilness has been passed on.
Many years later Jane (the single mother) finds out that her other daughter Isabel and her mother have moved to the same town.
Harper is pleased to have a sister and both girls get along fine for awhile until Isabel's adoptive mother becomes seriously ill and Isabel moves in with Jane and Harper.
Harper becomes difficult and resentful of the new living situation, she eventually goes to live at a friends house.
Some truths about Isabel become known when Jane becomes seriously ill.
Lots of twists and turns, a roller coaster of events with a huge surprise at the end of the book.
The father is an evil man and it seems his evilness has been passed on.
Many years later Jane (the single mother) finds out that her other daughter Isabel and her mother have moved to the same town.
Harper is pleased to have a sister and both girls get along fine for awhile until Isabel's adoptive mother becomes seriously ill and Isabel moves in with Jane and Harper.
Harper becomes difficult and resentful of the new living situation, she eventually goes to live at a friends house.
Some truths about Isabel become known when Jane becomes seriously ill.
Lots of twists and turns, a roller coaster of events with a huge surprise at the end of the book.
April 25, 2015
This book is so suspenseful, you will hold your breath while you are reading it. I read this book in two days ( I am a slow reader - that is amazingly fast for me ). I just couldn't wait to flip to the next page.
It is hard to say too much about this book without giving away the ending. This book looks at the nature vs nurture question. It is a unique way to look at it.
Let me just say this - READ IT!! Before you start page one - make sure you have time to keep reading - you will not want to put it down.
It is hard to say too much about this book without giving away the ending. This book looks at the nature vs nurture question. It is a unique way to look at it.
Let me just say this - READ IT!! Before you start page one - make sure you have time to keep reading - you will not want to put it down.
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